the fiscal cliff and our long-term deficit challenges. we have yet to see even an acknowledgment from republican leaders of the fundamental fact that there is no deal. that -- is no deal that does not include rates going up on top earners. as the president said in the interview you cited and as he has said before, he doesn't hold that position because it's inherently good. he doesn't hold it because he wants to punish wealthy americans, he holds it because it is mathematically sound. it is an absolute fact that there is no way to achee the kind of balance in a broad deficit reduction package, a balance that requires significant revenues without rates going up on top earners. you cannot achieve it through closing of loopholes or capping of deductions and you certainly can be the achieve it through the kind of vague proposal we've seen from republicans which contain no specificity whatsoever, not -- not a single deduction named or loophole identified to be closed. so rates have to go up. the president believes, and it's part of the proposal